San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-28

mlrh YOU miss the horns here
You SHOULD have heard il last night"
exclaimed Brogni, as she played the
phrase.
She smiled, but made no reply. Cas-
Sefort was recalling, with secret amaze
ment, the fact that the Instrumentation
was not marked upon the Ms. she had
found upon the piano.
All solicitations failed to induce the
Signora to play again.
gu, a composer" she said, "cncOur-
age a pot pOlurip | cannot believe IT,"
"That il unansweTable certainly"
Castlefort laughed; unless you should
play the same again."
The first evening seemed to determine
the relations of Signora StOccati with
both the young men. Castlefort eX-
hibited ever after the fatherly interest
he bod vowed, and equally she showed
fl uE, free liking for him such as
~ NJ Xist between old companions.
Q lily nough, despite the dissimilarity
hr.E ~ his markedly English face and
her g. ian beauty, she constantly show
ed . ~; tile and battling yet undeniable
lik"u 80 to Lord CastlefOrt.
~ Dina is surely your sister, Carl"
Wet 4 would say. "Be sure she was
stolen from your side in the cradle"
1h2 cunts feeling for the beautiful
stranger was undisguisedly stronger
passion than affection. His old boast
that music was and should be his only
mistress, was wholly forgotten. He was
80 ievent and self-abandoned in his
love that he scorned any attempt at
concealment. Indeed there was in FraZ-
DINA that perfect frankness which in
itself demands and cOmpels entire hon
esSy in return. The yeriest coquette
could not have feigned ignorance of his
passion; and she made no pretence Of
not being aware of it. Yet, although
she did not conceal her regard for the
count, and her pleasure at his prefer
ence, there was ever between them some
fine imperceptible barrier, which all
felt, yet which none could define.
They all felt, too, the presence of a
certain mystery about Frazolina, and
each inwardly explained it differently.
To the Count di BrOgni it was only the
shynesS and sweet intoXication of
maiden's first love; the mist through
which his star CLEANED, unchanged and
undimmed in itself. Lady CastlefOrt
vaguely attributed this intangible some
thing to peculiarly of temperament
or education, and troubled herself about
IL lO llltl. Iltl Dull, vi kilt OIllt1
hand, analysed and examined the
strangenesS which hung about their
guest. 1t was not his habit to yield to
preiudices which he could not explain,
and he set himself diligently TO work to
solve the somewhat intangible problem.
About a week after the arrival of
Frazolina, Lord CastlefOrt was ono aft
ernoon summoned to his mothers room.
She was suffering from severe head
ache, and lay with closed eyes upon
couch, beside which was small table
with pile of unopened letters.
Il wish you would look over my mail,
Carl" she said languidly; Il shall be
good for nothing tomorrow, and there
may be some that need answers at once.
| am all behind hand in my cOrrespon-
dence; l have not even written to Lady
StOccati, and by this time she must be
on her way to England"
Don't you know when she was to
start?" he asked, picking up the letters.
mo, and it is strange how little Fra
zOlina knows about her mothers plans.
.kiiey must be rather unSympathetic
with each other, fancy. It's odd for
her mother not to write to her.
at is strange" her son returned alb
sently, his glance fixed upon letter
winch he nau opened.
what do you lind?" Lady CastlefOrt
asked
Nothing of immediate importance"
he answered, pOcketing the letter.
"There are a few bills" he continued,
hastily examining the remaining epis-
ties, "a long letter from Aunt West
wells about her govt, her lap-dOgs and
whist; and here are few invitations.
They can wait"
When Carl left his mothers chamber
he went in search of FrazOlina. He
found her in a Summer-hOuSe in the
garden. She had neither book nor work,
but sat gazing out over the glorious bay,
where the sunset cast its light over the
waves and crimsoned the boat sails.
"What are you dOing?" Castlefort
asked with some abruptness, suddenly
coming upon her from the shade of the
vines, which had concealed his approach.
being" she replied smiling. That
is my mission, is it nOt?"
"TO know your mission it is necessary
to know who you are. FrazOlina, who
are youp"
A look of wonder not unmixed, it
seemed to him, with alarm came over
her clear face as she looked at him in
silence.
"See," lie continued, taking from his
pocket the letter he had taken from his
mothers room. Lady StOccati writes
that she has been prevented from send
ing her daughter, as her husbands
friends insist upon the young lady's re-
naming with them. You are not then
FraZOlina StOccati; who are your"
Her expression became more cODfus-
ed and panied as he spoke.
Il do not understand you" she said
slowly.
Her beautiful arms dropped; her firm,
white hands lay crossed upon her lap;
her white dress reflected upon her clear
skin new lustre; her lovely eyes were
wide and wistfuI.
"WhO is this Lady StOccati?" she went
on. What is she to me? Your moth
er has spoken of her. When | came you
called me FraZoliha StOCcati, and /
thought the name pleased you. 1t was
nothing to me, only one must have a
name. If it does not suit you, another
will do as well. / am content either
way"
A sudden shock came to him as she
spoke so calmly. She must be mad. He
could not speak, and the two regarded
each other in silence. The bright sun
set clouds were reflected in her clear
eyes as she rose and faced him. 1t SEEM
ed to him as if he were looking into the
very depth of her soul. He noticed the
reflection of a long red cloud across one
pupil-or was it the red line which Ital-
ian superstition declares to CROSS the
eyes of creatures formed by magic? He
felt certain fascination, as if her mad
ness were affecting him; he threw his
head backward, breathing fast.